Folding for a convertible vehicle

ABSTRACT

A folding top for a convertible vehicle is provided with a folding top frame ( 4 ), which can be swiveled out of a closed position in contact with the windshield frame into a rear open position and has rod linkage legs ( 6, 6′, 7, 7′ ), which lie opposite to one another in pairs symmetrically to the longitudinal medium plane ( 5 ) and at which, in particular, a flexible skin ( 8 ) of the folding top ( 2 ) is held. The inventive folding top frame ( 4 ) is provided in the region of at least one pair of rod linkage legs ( 6, 6′ ), lying opposite to one another, in each case with a frame section ( 9 ), which is intended to hold the folding top ( 2 ) and can be shifted to during the opening and closing motions (arrow A) relative to these rod linkage legs ( 6, 6′ ).

[0001] The invention relates to a folding top for a convertible vehicle in a construction of introductory portion of claim 1.

[0002] In the case of know convertibles of this type (DE 44 41 668C1), a folding top is provided, the flexible roof skin of which, connected with rod linkage legs of the folding top frame, is detachably fixed to the rear rod linkage leg in order to avoid overspreading during the opening and closing movements and, in the closed position, is fixed by a tensioning rope in the region of the rod linkage leg. During movement into the respective opening or closing position, it is cumbersome to control the tensioning rope and, in the event of a conceivable fatigue of the latter, a passage between the tensioning rope and the rod linkage leg into the passenger space cannot be excluded.

[0003] The invention is concerned with the problem of creating a folding top for a convertible vehicle the skin roof of which, held with little to make an effort in the region of the rod linkage leg, can be shifted without fatigue with the folding top frame, this shifting can be taken up without overstressing and also makes possible the optimum coverage of the four-seat to passenger spaces.

[0004] Starting out from a folding top of the introductory portion of the claim, this objective is accomplished with the distinguishing features of the characterizing part of claim 1. With regard to significant further refinements, reference is made to claims 2 to roof 17.

[0005] In the region of its roof skin connection to the folding frame, the inventive folding top is provided connecting units, which lie opposite one another in pairs at the folding top frame and are formed in each case by one of the rod linkage legs and a frame section, connected with the roof skin. The parts of the connecting unit are coupled over a restricted guidance in such a manner, that relative movement between the region of the roof skin, taken hold of at the age, and the associated rod linkage leg is possible. The folding top, especially a flexible roof skin, permanently connected with the folding top frame or the respective frame section, can be shifted during an opening or closing motion of the folding top frame in such a manner, that shifting and folding of the folding top, which is gentle to the material and does not overstress it, is achieved and, at the same time, even covers for larger passenger spaces, such as a four-seater car, can be moved optimally.

[0006] Further details and advantageous effects of the invention allies out of the following description and the drawing, in which an example of the object of the invention is shown in greater detail. In the drawing,

[0007]FIG. 1 shows a perspective rear view of a convertible vehicle with a folding top in the closed position,

[0008]FIG. 2 shows an enlarged sectional representation of the folding top frame in the region of the rear rod linkage leg,

[0009]FIG. 3 shows a sectional representation, similar to that of FIG. 2, with the rod linkage legs in a first opening phase,

[0010]FIG. 4 shows a sectional representation, similar to that of FIG. 3, with the rod linkage legs in the rear open opening position,

[0011]FIG. 5 shows a representation of a detail of a frame section, which can be fixed at the rod linkage leg and

[0012]FIG. 6 shows a sectional representation in the region of the rear blood linkage leg with the frame section of a line VI-VI in FIG. 1.

[0013] In FIG. 1, a convertible is shown, which is labeled 1 as a whole and the top 2 of which, which is constructed as a folding top, can be shifted to out of the closed position, which is shown and in which it lies against a windshield frame 3, into an opening position at the rear. The folding top 2 has a pivotable folding top frame 4 (FIG. 2) with rod linkage legs 6, 7, which lie opposite to one another in pairs, symmetrical to the longitudinal median plane 5 of the vehicle 1. In figure is 2 to 4, in each case only one side of the folding top frame 4 is shown, it being understood that corresponding rod linkage legs 6′, 7′ lies symmetrically opposite to the rod linkage legs 6 and 7, which are shown. With this construction of a folding top, a particularly flexible roof skin 8 of the folding top 2, having a rear window 10, is held.

[0014] The folding top frame 4, which is constructed pursuant to the invention, is provided in the region of at least one pair of rod linkage legs 6, 6′ (or 7, 7′), lying opposite one another, with a frame section 9, which carries the roof skin 8 and can be shifted during the opening and closing movements (FIG. 2 to FIG. 4) relative to the rod linkage leg 6. With that, minimizing of the folding top stresses during the movement of the folding top 2 is possible and excessive stresses and/or unintentional crinkling of the roof skin 8 is avoided. At the same time, with this construction, missing lengths of material, which can allies during a stowage movement of the folding top 2 between the regions, where the roof skin is connected to parts of the folding top frame 4, can be bridged.

[0015] With this shiftable connection in the region of the frame section 9, a folding top kinematics, provided for example with a Z fold, can be adapted to a covering of a larger passenger space, for example, of a four-seater vehicle. In this connection, the folding top frame 4 may also have more than two rod linkage legs 6, 7, disposed one behind the other. Likewise, it is conceivable that, in the case of a construction of folding top regions between the opposite rod linkage legs1 with a rigid roof skin all rigid roof panels (not shun), variable folding top kinematics can be achieved.

[0016] For shifting the frame section 9 relative to the respective rod linkage leg 6, these components are constructed as a connected unit in the form of a restricted guidance. In particular, the frame section 9 is guided displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the rod linkage leg 6 (FIG. 5).

[0017] The movement phases of the folding top frame 4 of FIGS. 2 to 4 make it clear that the respective frame section 9 can be swiveled together with the assigned linkage rod leg 6. In the case of this swiveling motion (arrow A) of the folding top frame 4, the frame section 9, in turn, can be shifted at least phase-wise on an arc-shaped curved longitudinal path B (FIG. 3), this longitudinal path B being determined essentially by the variation in the contour of the associated rod linkage leg 6. In this connection, it is also conceivable that the frame section 9 follows a three-dimensional curvature (not shown) of the longitudinal path B or of the rod linkage leg 6 during the folding top motion.

[0018] The inventive folding top frame 4 can be adapted to vehicle roofs of different sizes owing to the fact that the several pairs 6, 6′; 7, 7′ of rod linkage legs, having in each case shiftable frame sections 9, are provided (not shown), and, with that, the associated roof skin 8 experiences in several regions an optimum control, folding and tightening.

[0019] In the case of the convertible 1, shown in FIG. 1, the folding tough frame 4 is provided at the edges with two rod linkage legs 6 and 7, which are disposed one behind the other in the longitudinal direction. In each case, the shiftable frame section 9 is provided in the region of the rod linkage leg pair 6, 6′, which is the rear pair in the opening direction (arrow A).

[0020] The opening phase of FIG. 3 makes it clear that the rod linkage leg, which is generally labeled with 6, forms a main column 16 of the folding top frame 4 carrying the frame section 9. When a known guide rod 11 is moved by means of a driving mechanism 12, this main column 16 is swiveled about a supporting bearing 13 of a main bearing 14 at the rear of the car body. From the superimposition shown in FIG. 2, the guide rod 11 and the main column 16, when movement A of the folding top is initiated, are swiveled into the expanded representation illustrated with arrow C in FIG. 3. At the same time, a relative movement, shown with an arrow direction D, is produced in the region of the frame section 9. By means of this relative movement, the roof skin 8 (FIG. 6), the details of which are not shown, when shifted further towards the rear region of the vehicle 1, is deposited in a controlled man known in the vicinity of a parapet line 15 (FIG. 4). During a subsequent closing motion of the folding top frame 4 with the folding top 2 the frame section 9 and the parts of the rod linkage leg 6 are shifted in the reverse sequence.

[0021] The section on representation of FIG. 6 illustrates the structural components of the above-described connecting unit at the rod linkage leg 6. In an advantageous embodiment, the shiftable frame section 9 is constructed as a structural unit, which is composed of several parts and has a holding strut 18, which is connected to on the outside with the folding top material 17 of the roof skin 8. This holding strut 18, in turn, is supported on any guide rail 19 fixed on a rod linkage leg 6, these two parts 18 and 19 being connected longitudinal displaceably at least regionally by a slideway at G. Likewise, it is conceivable that the longitudinally displaceable parts 18 and 19 are connected are connected to the guide rollers or the like (not shown).

[0022] In FIG. 5, the frame section 9 is shown in a detailed representation as a two-part structural unit. In the left region of the figure, the holding strut 18, which may be connected in the region of the school connections 20 with the rod linkage leg 6 (or the main column 16, FIG. 6), which is not shown, is moved out of the guide rails and 19.

[0023] The guide rail 19 is constructed in cross section as a U-shaped profiled part, the accommodating trough 22 of which rail 19, which is directed downward and constructed as an L-shaped profiled part, is engaged by the holding strut 18, so that a positive connection is formed. On the one hand, the holding strut 18 is supported in the accommodating trough 22 with its long leg 23 in contact with the inside of the outer U-shaped profiled leg 21 and, on the other, it is guided in the region of a base leg 25 of the guide leg 19 so that its short leg 24 can slide at G.

[0024] The long leg 23 of the holding strut 18 is provided with a shoulder contour 26, which lies against a corresponding, complementarily shaped book contour 27 at the inside of the outer U-shaped profiled leg of the guide rail 19, so that the two shaped parts interlock with one another as an additional guiding contour. For guiding and supporting the holding strut 18 in the region of the base leg 25 (sliding guidance G), a supporting rail 29, which is fixed to the inner U-shaped profiled a 28 and shaped as an L-shaped profile and the shorter leg 30 of which groups below the short leg 24 all of the holding strut 18, is provided in the accommodating trough 22. With this connecting construction, the holding strut 18, carrying the roof skin 8, can be shifted relative to the guide rail 19 corresponding to the movement shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (arrow D).

[0025] Instead of the connecting construction described above, it is conceivable that the guide rail 19 and the holding strut 18 are formed from two extruded profiles (not shown), which can be pushed directly into one another, so that the design of the connecting construction is simplified.

[0026] The representation of FIG. 6 furthermore shows that a sealing cord 31, into which a rear window pane 19 can be pushed, is provided in the guide rail 19, fitting into the U-shaped profile of the latter. The sealing cord 31 is connected by a screw connection 20′ with the guide to a 19 and lies with a latch 34 against a shoulder contour 33 in such a manner, that the sealing cord 31 is held positionally accurately in the accommodating trough 22 between the parts 18 and 19.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment, a sliding coating is provided between the holding strut 18 and the guide rail 19. This can be integrated in the connecting construction at G and/or in the vicinity 35 of where the folding top material 17 is connected to the long leg 23 of the holding strut 18. In FIG. 6, a sliding coating G′ is shown, which is provided at the inside of the folding top material 17 as a sliding surface at the outer U-shaped profiled leg 21 of the guide rail 19. Whereas a displacement is easily accomplished (arrow D), wear of parts sliding on one another is thereby avoided.

[0028] The material 17 of the folding top is connected in the region 35 of where it is connected by a seam 36 with the holding strut 18. Likewise, the connection 35 can conceivably be a welded connection. Above the connection 35, the profiled leg 21 of the guide rail 19, during the installation of the parts, can be pushed as if it were a tab into the installed position between the sliding layer G′ and the holding strut 18, said that the connection catches in the region of the undercut profile and 26,27. 

1. A folding top for a convertible vehicle, which has a folding top frame (4), which can be swiveled out of a closed position in contact with the windshield frame into a rear open position, with rod linkage legs (6, 6′, 7, 7′), which lie opposite to one another in pairs symmetrically to the longitudinal medium plane (5) and at which, in particular, a flexible skin (8) of the folding top (2) is held, wherein the folding top frame (4) is provided in the region of at least one pair of rod linkage legs (6, 6′), lying opposite to one another, in each case with a frame section (9), which is intended to hold the folding top (2) and can be shifted to during the opening and closing motions (arrow A) relative to these rod linkage legs (6, 6′).
 2. The folding top of claim 1, wherein the respective log linkage leg (6) is connected by a restricted guidance with the frame section (9) which is controlled so that it can be shifted in the longitudinal direction (B) of the rod linkage leg (6).
 3. The folding top of claims 1 or 2, wherein the respective frame section (9) and can be swiveled jointly with the associated rod linkage leg (6) and, at the same time, the frame section (9) can be shifted to at least phase-wise on an arc-shaped curve to longitudinal pass (B).
 4. The folding top of one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the folding top frame (4) is provided at the edge with several pairs (6, 6′; 7, 7′) of rod linkage legs having in each case shiftable frame sections (9).
 5. The folding top of one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the folding top frame (4) has at the edge two rod linkage legs (6, 6′; 7, 7′) and the two shiftable frame sections (9) are provided in the region of the rod linkage leg pair (6, 6′), which is the rear pair in the opening direction.
 6. The folding top of one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the respective frame section (9) is constructed as a multi-part structural units, which has a holding strut (18), which is connected on the outside with the folding top material (17) of the roof skin (8) and, in turn, is supported on a guide rail (19), fixed on a rod linkage leg (6; main column 16) and these two parts (18, 19) are connected to longitudinally displaceably at least region only by a slideway and/or a guide roller (G).
 7. The folding top of claim 6, wherein the guide rail (to 19) is constructed in cost section as a U-shaped profiled part (21, 25, 28), the accommodating trough (22) of which rail (19), which is directed downward and constructed as an L-shaped profiled part, is engaged by the holding strut (18), so that a positive connection is formed.
 8. The folding top of claims 6 or 7, wherein, on the one hand, the holding strut (18) is supported in the accommodating trough (22) with its long leg (23) in contact with the inside of the outer U-shaped profiled leg (21) is and, on the other, is supported at the base leg (25) of the U-shaped profiled part so that it shall leg (24) can slide in the accommodating trough (as 22) of the guide rail (19).
 9. The folding top of one of the claims 6 to 8, wherein the long leg (23) of the holding strut (18) is provided with a shoulder contour (26), which interlocks with a hook contour (27) at the inside of the outer U-shaped profiled leg (as 21) of the guide rail (19).
 10. The folding top of one of the claims 6 to 9, wherein, in the accommodating trough (22), a supporting rail (29) is provided, which is fixed to the inner U-shaped profiled leg (to 28) and is constructed as an L-shaped profile and the short leg 13 of which takes hold of the short leg (24) of the L-shaped holding strut (18) from below.
 11. The folding top of one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the guide rail (19) is and the holding strut (18) are formed by two extruded profiles, which are pushed directly into one another.
 12. The folding top of one of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the restrictedly guided parts of the frame section (9), in the region where they make contact, are provided with a sliding coating (G, G′).
 13. The folding top of one of the claims 1 to 12, wherein the frame section (9), in the region of its guide rail (19) has a sealing cord (31), which is fitted into the U-shaped profile of the guide rail (19).
 14. The folding top of claim 13, wherein the sealing cord (31) is connected over a screw connection (20′) with the guide to the (19) and a latch (74) of the sealing cord (31) to rise against the shoulder contour (27) of the holding strut (18).
 15. The folding top of one of the claims 1 to 14, wherein a sliding coating (G) is provided between the holding strut (18) and the guide rails (19).
 16. The folding top of one of the claims 1 to 15, wherein a sliding coating (G′) is provided between the outer U-shaped profiled leg ('s 21) of the guide rail (19) and the roof skin (17).
 17. The folding top of one of the claims 1 to 16, wherein the rear rod linkage leg (6), together with the assigned frame section (9), forms a main column (16) of the rear-driven folding top frame (4). 